Weston Kiwanis: Puppies Behind Bars discusses canine training

This Saturday, April 20, at Norfield Parish Hall, the Kiwanis Club will host the senior instructor at Puppies Behind Bars, Carl Rotans. PBB is a non-profit organization that trains prison inmates to raise, train, and care for puppies that will become service dogs for the disabled and explosive detection canines for law enforcement. Saturday’s meeting will begin at 8:30 a.m. Breakfast will be served and members of the public are welcome.

Mr. Rotans took his love and passion for his own Labrador Retrievers, and began his career in dog obedience training. This led to his employment at a nationally renowned guide dog school located in the New York metropolitan area. It was there that he worked and received formal training and eventually took an instructor position with PBB.

Now as the senior instructor his duties include the training and instruction of new staff as well as opening and preliminary instruction for the program in new correctional facilities.

Founded in 1997 by Gloria Gilbert Stoga, PBB has become a world leader in prison dog raising programs and operates in correctional facilities in three states. “The quality of the dogs produced is second to none, but equally important is the effect the program has on the inmates who care for the dogs,” noted a press release from Kiwanis about the program. The puppies live in prison with their “puppy raisers” from age eight weeks until 18 months.

The Kiwanis Club of Weston, an organization dedicated to community service, sponsors a variety of programs and events to raise funds for local organizations whose activities benefit the community at large. Its members work to support worthy causes in the community and surrounding areas through a combination of community service, philanthropy, and assistance to youth and citizens of all ages. The club’s membership is open to all men and women residing or working in the area. For more information, visit westonkiwanis.org.